ROLLA—University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd announced today that he will recommend an educational fee increase of no more than 3.5 percent for the next academic year.

Floyd announced his decision during the University of Missouri Board of Curators meeting in Rolla, Mo. Floyd said that the increase would be the minimum needed to sustain the quality of the University’s academic programs while minimizing the impact on students.

"I have concluded that we simply must do all that we can to keep the next educational fee increase as low as we possibly can, in line with the cost of inflation," Floyd said. "To enable students and their families to plan ahead, I believe we should signal our intention as early as possible."

The UM Board of Curators typically approves educational fee increases in the spring. Dr. Floyd will make his recommendation at that time.

"We must do all that we can to keep a college education within the reach of all Missourians," Floyd said. "I believe that setting next year’s educational fee increase at 3.5 percent (or below) will (show) our intention to keep fees as low as possible consistent with prudent financial management of the University and the preservation of the quality of the academic enterprise."